903NorthCountryFairDrive

Champaign,IL,USA
61821

contact@edenpark.com
www.edenpark.com

MicroplasmaPlanarLighting
FlatThinLightWeightHighQualityLight

Advantages

ATruePlanarTechnology
50,000HourProductLife
5MillimetersThick
HighQualityLight
InstantOn/Off
NoReflectors
NoHeatSink
NoDiffusers
NoMercury

ByCyHerring,VPResearch,JeffBulsonVPDevelopmentandMartyDugan,VPProductManagement

Copyright2012EdenParkIllumination

TableofContents
Advantages ............................................................................................................................................................ 1
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................... 3
The Problem with Fluorescent Lamps: Mercury ................................................................................................ 3
The Solution: Microplasma Flat Panel Lamps ................................................................................................... 4
Microplasma Lighting Technology...................................................................................................................... 5
Microplasma Lamp Structure .............................................................................................................................. 6
Lamp Seal and Phosphors ................................................................................................................................... 6
Advantages of Microplasma Technology ........................................................................................................... 7
OLED Limitations .................................................................................................................................................. 8
Cost Advantages of Microplasma Planar Lamps .............................................................................................. 8
Advanced Microplasma Lamp Applications....................................................................................................... 9
Summary ................................................................................................................................................................ 9
Appendix .............................................................................................................................................................. 10
Typical Specifications for a Microplasma Lamp .............................................................................................. 10
Glossary ............................................................................................................................................................... 11

EdenParkIlluminationsMicroplasmaLamp

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MicroplasmaPlanarLightingTechnology
EdenParkIllumination,Inc.

Introduction
MicroplasmalightingisapatentedgasdischargelightingtechnologythatEdenParkIllumination
hasdevelopedforcurrentspecialtylightingandfuturegenerallightingapplications.Thelamps
emitawarmhighqualitylightanddonotrequirehighcostmanufacturingprocesses(i.e.clean
rooms,semiconductorfabrication),toproducewhichenablelowproductionandmaterials
costs.Thelampscontainnomercuryorotherenvironmentaltoxins,arelessthat5mmthick
andareestimatedtolastforover50,000hours(about10yearsofaverageuse).Itisatrue
planarlamp,whichemitsallofitslightdirectlyfromthesurfaceofthelampandrequiresno
additionaltechnologysuchasdiffusers,reflectors,orheatsinks.Thismicroplasmaflatpanel
lamptechnologyisidealforapplicationswhereflat,thin,highqualityandenvironmentally
responsiblelightingisneeded.Thispapercoversthespecificationsofthepatentedcore
technologiesinvolvedaswellasapplicationsandfutureconsiderationforthetechnology.

TheProblemwithFluorescentLamps:Mercury
Gasdischargelightingtechnologiesintheformoffluorescentlampshavedominatedthe
lightingmarketbecausetheyarebothefficientatproducinglightandinexpensiveto
manufacture.Althoughtheirefficiencyandlowcosthave
madethemthemainstreamlightingtechnology,they
haveseveraldrawbacksthatareofincreasingconcern
formanyusers.Thehighestefficiencylampshavepoor
lightingqualitythatlimitstheirusetooutdoor
applicationsand,ingeneral,arclampsaresobright
thattheycanonlybeusedinwarehousetype
applications.However,thetwobiggestconcernswith
gasdischargelampsaretheuseoftoxicmercuryin
construction,andtheirlimitedlifetime.Environmental
concernsareplacingmorestringentregulationson
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disposalofmercurycontainingproducts,oftenmakingrecyclingmandatoryandatahighercost
thantheoriginalpurchasepriceofthelamp.Otherareasofconcernarepoorinstanton
capabilities,dimming,andwarmuptime.

Newemergingtechnologieshavebeenonthehorizonforthepastdecade,suchasLEDsand
OLEDs,promisinglowcostandhighefficiencylightingsolutionstoeventuallyreplacemercury
containinglampsandlowCRIarclamps.TimehasshownthatOLEDsarenotalegitimate
candidateforlampreplacementtechnologyduetotheirhighcosts,lowlumenoutput,and
limitedlifetimeatleastforthenextdecadeortwo.LEDtechnologyhasshowngreatstrides
withefficacygains,butathighcostsandwithperformancefallingshortofexpectations.The
greatestproblemswithcommercialLEDtechnologiesisthepoorlightingquality,highcosts,and
thefactthatmanyoftheproductsdonotliveuptotheirstatedspecifications(Ref:USDOE
CALiPERProgramreports).Lifetimeandchanginglightqualityovertimearealsoamajor
concernforthetechnology.Despitetheselimitations,LEDlightingremainsapromising
technologyforgenerallighting.ButthereremainsomespecificationsthatLEDsdonotmeet
well.ItmaybethatLEDandothertechnologies,includingmicroplasmalighting,workin
combinationinthefuturetodeliverawiderandmorecosteffectivesetoflightingsolutionsto
thegenerallightingindustry.
TheSolution:MicroplasmaFlatPanelLamps
EdenParkhasdevelopedaninexpensivemethodofmanufacturingflatglasslampswith
exceptionallightingqualitythatdoesnotrequiretheuseofmercuryorothertoxicmaterials.
Thelampsareinexpensivewhencomparedwithotherhighqualityflatlightingdevicesbecause
theyareconstructedfrominexpensivematerialswithasimplefabricationtechnique.Thelight
qualitycomesfromaninternallydevelopedcustomblendof
phosphorswhichcanbetailoredforindividualapplications.
Theconstructionallowsflexibilityinlampshape,contour,
andcolor.Thelampworksbygeneratingultraviolet(UV)
lightusingamercuryfreegasdischargeinaninertxenon
gas.TheUVlightshinesonaphosphorcoatinginsidethe
lamp,producingvisiblelightinasimilarmannerto
fluorescentlamps.Althoughthexenongasisnotas
efficientasmercuryforlightingapplications,theplanar
formfactorallowsahigherpercentageofthelighttobe
utilizedinrealworldapplicationsthanstandardfluorescent
lamps.Thisisbecausestandardfluorescentlampsmustbe
enclosedinareflectiveluminairewhichabsorbsasmuchas
20%ofthelampoutput.TheEdenParkflatformfactor
combinedwithournewmicrodischargetechnologymakethe
lampefficacycompetitivewithcompactfluorescentlampstodaybutwithoutthemercury.

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MicroplasmaLightingTechnology
ThepatentedlightingtechnologywasdevelopedandpatentedattheUniversityofIllinoisand
worksbyconfiningthegasdischargeinsidethelampintothousandsoftinycavitiesformedinto
theglass.Thisconfinementallowsthelamptooperateathigherpressuresthanconventional
colddischargeswhichenablesgreaterefficienciestobeachievedwhencomparedtolower
pressurexenondischargelamps.Insidearunninglamp,xenonatomsinthedischargeform
moleculescalleddiatomicxenonwhichemitUVradiationthatisconvertedtowhitelightbythe
phosphorcoatinginsideofthelamp.Theefficiencyofthelampdependsontheabilityto
generatethediatomicxenon;thisprocessishelpedwithincreasingpressuresincethereare
morexenonatomspervolumethatcaninteract.However,typicaldischargesformarcsor
streamersathigherpressuresduetothelowthermalconductivityofthexenongas.Thekey
pointisthatmicrodischargetechnologyallowsthelamptooperateathigherpressuresina
stablemanner,therebyachievinghigherefficiencyofUVproduction.Figure1showsacross
sectionoftheglassenvelopemakingupthelampstructure.Themicrocavitiesareetchedinto
theglassbeforetheapplicationofphosphorandbeforethelampisassembled.

Figure1.Crosssectionalviewofaflatpanellampshowingmicrocavitiesinsidetheglass
envelope.

AnadditionalbenefittothestructureshowninFigure1isthattheelectrodessupplyingpower
tothelampareoutsideofthegasdischargeregion.Thelampinthisconfigurationworksasa
dielectricbarrierdischargedevicewhichresultsinprojectedlifetimesof>50,000hours.
Keepingtheelectrodesawayfromthegasdischargepreventsmetalsputteringwhichisthe
majorcontributortothelimitedlifetimeofstandardfluorescentlamps,arclamps(streetlamps,
highbaylamps,etc.),compactfluorescentlamps,metalhalidelamps,andtungstenfilament
lamps(whicherodethroughelectrodeevaporation).

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Thexenongasinsidethelampremainsinthegasphasetotemperaturesoflessthan162F,so
thereisnowarmuptimeaswithmercurycontainingfluorescentlampswherethelampneeds
timetogenerateheattoevaporatetheliquidmercuryinsidethelamptoachievefull
brightness.Insidethelamp,thegaspressureis500Torrsothelampwillfunctionnormallyto
>10,000feetelevationwithoutanychangeinperformance.EdenParkslampsareinstant
on/off,bright,dimmable,requirenowarmuptime,operateoverawiderangeoftemperatures
(from0Fto200F),andusenotoxicmaterialsinconstruction,includingmercury.
MicroplasmaLampStructure
AsshowninFigure1,thelampiscomposedoffourlayersofglass,eachlayerbeing0.043thick
andmayormaynotbestrengthenedglass;ifstrengthened,itissimilartoCorningGorilla
Glassusedinmodernphones.Whencombinedwiththegasdischargelayerandelectrodes,the
totalthicknessis<0.25.Sincetheglassitselfservesasthemechanicalstructureofthelamp,
thereisnoneedforadditionalexternalstructuresforsupportorpowerdelivery,sothelamp
canmaintainthethicknessevenforlightingtileareasofmanysquarefeet.Theshapeofthe
lampisnotimportanttothefunctionaslongasthedischargegapremainsconstant,sothe
lampcanbemadeindifferentshapes,fromcylindricaltospherical,andcutintoanydesired
patternsuchasformedlettersforsignage.Forthesespecialshapes,theglasswouldbe
preparedbeforeassemblybyheatingandshaping,thencuttothedesiredpattern,andthe
remainingprocesses,includinglampassembly,seal,andbackfill,wouldbeperformedina
similarmannertothestandardflatlamp.Thedischargegapspacingisdeterminedbyusing
spacersstrategicallypositionedthroughoutthelampstructure.Thisformsagridpatternthat
canbeseenoncloseinspectionofthefrontofthelamp.
LampSealandPhosphors
Leadfreeglassfritformsahermeticsealaroundtheperimeterofthelamptrappingthexenon
gasinsidethelampwithatechnologythatcanmaintainthesealfor>100years.Thisseal
contributestothelongevityofthelampensuringthatnogasleaksintooroutofthelamp,
whichwouldlimitthelifetime.Therobustsealandexternalelectrodesbothenhancelamp
lifetime,leavingonecomponentwhichagesovertime:
thephosphor.EdenParkuseshighqualityphosphors
developedfortheplasmaTVindustry.Thesephosphors
haveprojectedlifetimesof>50,000hoursfor70%
brightness(usingtheIESLM80testingprotocol).The
lampwillcontinuetooperateafter50,000hours,butnot
beasbrightasitwasbeforeaging.Also,thephosphors
aremixedfromred,green,andbluecomponentsgiving
theabilitytopreciselycontrolboththecolorpointand
thecolortemperature.Thisprocessproducesatypical
CRIof>80.

Phosphorsarescreenprintedontotheinsideglassenvelopebeforelampassembly.Sincethey
arescreenprintedusingstandardpractices,text,shapes,andcolorscanbeprintedontothe
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glassinthesamewayacolorfulpatternisscreenprintedontoaTshirt.Inthiscase,multiple
screenswouldbepreparedforeachphosphorcolormixandusedsequentiallytobuildupa
colorimagewhichcouldbeasimpleborderaroundtheperimeterofalamp,acompanylogo,
ordetailedgraphics.
AdvantagesofMicroplasmaTechnology
Theoverwhelminglypositivereactiontomicroplasmalampshascenteredonthevisualquality
andappearanceofthelightandlamp.Theappearanceofthelight,whichhasaunique,warm
glow,andveryuniformdiffuseluminance,hasintriguedthosewhohaveseenit.Thistruly
planarlightisinspiringdesignersandworkingitswayintoflatpaneldesignswherethinnessisa
keyrequirementordesignelement.Andthethinprofilegoesbeyondjustdesigntrends.Due
tothethindimensions,lowweight,andthelackoftheneedforreflectors,diffusers,orheat
sinkassistivetechnologiesinthefixturing,thelampscanbepackaged,shipped,andstoredin
lowerprofileboxes.Thisadvantagegreatlyreducespackaging,shipping,andwarehousing
costs.Also,itslongproductlifeandmercuryfree,lowenvironmentalimpact,roundouta
muchneededsetofspecificationsthatfocusesonsustainability.

AdvantagesofMicroplasmaPlanarLampTechnology:
GreenTechnologyMercuryfreeandleadfree(containsnotoxicmaterials),recyclable,
andenvironmentallyfriendly
Ultrathin(lessthan5mm)andlightweight
Eliminatestheneedforexternalreflectorstocontrolthelightdistribution
Offerslonglifeofupto50,000hours
GenerateslessheatNoheatsinksrequired
Flatcleanablesurface
Instanton/off

MicroplasmalampshaveseveraldistinctadvantagesoverOLEDandLEDlightingtechnologies
asshowninthechartbelow.
Technology Thickness Heatsink Reflector/ Luminance
CRI
Lifetime Efficacy

(mm)
required Diffuser
(cd/m2)
(hours)
(lm/W)
required
@70%
Microplasma
5
No
No
8000
8085 50,000 Currently
3040*
OLED
2
No
No
1000
80
10
60
15,000
LED
20
Yes
Yes
3000
8087 50,000
85
ComparisonofLightingTechnologiesSpecificallyforPlanarLightingFormFactors.
(Seeappendixforfullspecificationsforatypicalmicroplasmaplanarlamp)

*NoteonefficacylevelsMicroplasmalightingisarelativelynewlightingtechnologycompared
toLEDandOLED.Severalbreakthroughshavebeenachievedoverthelastthreeyearsthat
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haveboostedefficacy.Currentefficacyspecificationsare3040lm/Wasof2011.Thislevelis
doublethehighestratingfrom2010.Efficacyisexpectedtogrowtoover60lm/Wwith
theoreticalmaximumswellover100lm/W.
OLEDLimitations
OLEDProductLifetimeThebiggesttechnicalproblemforOLEDsisthelimitedlifetimeofthe
organicmaterials.Inparticular,blueOLEDshistoricallyhavehadalifetimeofaround14,000
hourstohalforiginalbrightness(fiveyearsat8hoursaday).

OLEDHighManufacturingExpenseOLEDmanufacturecurrentlyrequiresprocessstepsthat
makeitextremelyexpensive.Specifically,theuseofLowTemperaturePolysilicon(LTPS)
backplanesisrequired;LTPSbackplanesinturnrequirelaserannealingtoformanamorphous
siliconsubstrate,sothispartofthemanufacturingprocessforAMOLEDsstartswiththeprocess
costsofstandardLCD,andthenaddsanexpensive,timeconsumingprocessthatcannot
currentlybeusedonlargeareaglasssubstrates.
CostAdvantagesofMicroplasmaPlanarLamps
MicroplasmalampshavealowcostofmanufacturecomparedtoLEDandOLEDtechnologies.
Nocleanroomorsemiconductorprocessesarerequired.Materialsarecommonglass,
phosphor,andnoblegascomponents.Manufacturingprocessesarestandardscreenprinting,
mechanicalassembly,ovenseal,andvacuum/gasfillprocesses.Therefore,thecostperlampat
volumeproductionlevelsenablescoststobemuchlowerthanLEDandOLEDfinalfixture
products.Moreimportantly,unlikeLEDlampswherecostscalesrapidlywithlamparea,the
costofamicroplasmaplanarlampscalesataratelowerthanLEDlamps.Therefore,product
costsbecomeverycompetitiveasmicroplasmalampsgetbigger.

MarketPriceComparisonofFixturedPlanarLightingProducts
(Typicalhighquality12Inchx12InchPanellamp)
Microplasma

OLED(paneled)

LED

$100$200

$1000$5000

$200$400

100W

25W

25W

Luminousflux

3000lm

1500lm

2500lm

Efficacy

30lm/W

60lm/W

85lm/W

Lifespan

50,000h

8,000h

50,000h

$100

$2000$10,000

$200

Purchaseprice
Electricityusage

Lampcostover10years

Comparisonbasedon8hoursuseperdayLifetimeat%70luminousflux
(Seeappendixforfullspecificationsforatypicalmicroplasmaplanarlamp.)

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AdvancedMicroplasmaLampApplications
UltravioletApplications
Insidethelamp,thexenongasproducesUVradiationat173nm.Ifthephosphorsarenotused
inlampconstruction,andaUVgradeglassisused,thelampbecomesanultravioletlamp.Eden
ParkhasfabricatedUVlampsinthismanner,withapplicationsinwaterpurification,surface
activationtreatments,andphotodynamictherapy.TheUVapplicationsarenotlimitedto
173nmradiation,asaphosphorcanbeusedtoconvertthiswavelengthtootherareasof
interestincluding173220nm,260nm,oranywavelengthintheUVA,UVB,orUVCregion.
Whenusedinthismanner,thephosphorcanbeappliedtotheoutsideorinsideofthelamp,
dependingontheapplication.Applicationscanincludeawidevarietyofdisinfectionprocesses
forwaterorsurfaces.TheUVtechnologycanalsobeusedinmedicaldeviceapplicationsand
procedures.

CurvedThreeDimensionalApplications
Themicroplasmalamptechnologycanalsobeusedincurvedsurfaceproductsbyusingmolded
glassprocesses.These3Dlampshaveawidevarietyofdesignapplicationsinthespecialtyand
generallightingmarket.

Summary
Microplasmalightingtechnologyisprovingtobeavaluablealternativeinthespecialtyand
generallightingindustry.Itisatrueplanarlightsourcewithspecificationsthatmatchor
surpassothertechnologies.Althoughitisoneofthenewestlightingtechnologies,itspaceof
developmentdemonstratesthatitisaviablechoiceformanyapplications.Fromundershelf,
decorativeandarchitecturallightingapplicationstomorespecialtysectorslikeappliance,
transportation,andstudiolighting,microplasmatechnologyisstartingtofinditsplaceinthe
lightingindustry.

Contact:

FormoreinformationonMicroplasmaPlanarLamp
TechnologypleasecontactEdenParkIlluminationat:

EdenParkIllumination
903NorthCountryFairDrive
Champaign,IL,USA
61821
Email:contact@edenpark.com
Website:www.edenpark.com

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Appendix
Typical Specifications for a Microplasma Lamp
MicroplasmaPlanarLampSpecifications
Specification

Units

1x1Lamp(30cmx30cm)

TestConditions&Notes

Photometric
Construction

Distribution(forward/back)
Luminance

Nominal12squarewhitelightlightingtile
Percentagefront/backisa
designparameterthatcan
%
90/105
besetduringmanufacture
cd/m2

8000

CCT

3000200

CRI

822

hrs.

50,000

ME

3step

Dimmingrange

30%100%

Refreshrates(PRF)

Hz

>15,000

InputVoltage

120VAC50/60Hz

InputCurrent

1.4

estimate

Power

165

estimate

Lightingtiledimensions

cm(in.)

31.75x31.75x0.64
(12.50x12.50x0.25)

Lightingtileweight

kg(lbs.)

1.28(2.8)

Powersupplydimensions

cm(in.)

7.6x3.8x10(3x1.5x4)

casedimensions

C(F)

18to50(0to122)

10to90

environment
Noncondensing
environment

C(F)

80(175)

20Cand40%R.H.,vertical
orientation,fullpower

dBA

34

Lifetime
Surfaceluminanceuniformity
Surfacecoloruniformity

frontside

30%lumendepreciation
estimate
1cmedgeexclusion
unitsMacAdamEllipse

Electrical

Mechanical
physicaloutsidedimensions
estimate

OperatingEnvironment
Temperature
RelativeHumidity
OperatingTemperature
AudibleNoise

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Glossary
MicroplasmaLighting
TheuseofmicroplasmainthecreationofflatpanelgenerallightingwaspioneeredbyProf.
GaryEdenandSungJinPark,PhD.Theirpatentedtechnologyusesmanymicroplasma
generatorsinalargearray,whichemitlightthroughaclear,flat,transparentwindow.

ColorRenderingIndex(CRI)
CRIisacomparisonofalightsource'sabilitytoaccuratelyrenderthecolorofanobjecttothat
ofastandardreferencelightsource.TheCRIscaleisfrom0to100,withavalueof100
indicatingexcellentcolorrendering.SunlightandmostincandescentlampshaveCRIvaluesof
100.OnlycomparetheCRIvaluesoflightsourcesofroughlythesamecolortemperature.

CorrelatedColorTemperature(CCT)isthemeasureusedtodescribetherelativecolor
appearanceofawhitelightsource.CCTindicateswhetheralightsourceappearsmore
yellow/gold/orangeormoreblue,intermsoftherangeofavailableshadesof"white."CCTis
giveninKelvin(unitofabsolutetemperature).2700Kis"Warm"and5000Kis"Cool".

Efficacy
Efficacyisameasureoflightoutput(lumens)perwattofelectricalpowerneededbythelamp
toproducethatlight.Lumensareameasureofhowmuchlightisemitted.Wattsindicatehow
muchelectricalpowerisconsumed.

Lumen
Lumensareaunitofstandardmeasurement(luminousflux)thatisusedtodescribethetotal
amountoflightproducedbyalightsourceasperceivedbythehumaneye.Themorelumens,
thebrighterthelightyousee.Youcanuselumenstocomparethebrightnessofanybulb,
regardlessofthetechnologybehindit,andregardlessofwhetherit'sincandescent,CFLorLED.

LuminousFlux
Themeasureoftheperceivedpoweroflightemittedinalldirections.Itdiffersfromthe
measureofthetotalpoweroflightemittedsinceluminousfluxisadjustedtoreflectthevarying
sensitivityofthehumaneyetodifferentwavelengthsoflight.Inotherwords,luminousfluxisa
weightedsumoftheemittedpoweratallwavelengthsinthevisibleband.

LED
Alightemittingdiode(LED)isasemiconductordiodethatemitslightwhenanelectricalcurrent
isappliedintheforwarddirectionofthedevice.Theeffectisaformofelectroluminescence
whereincoherentandnarrowspectrumlightisemittedfromthepnjunction.

OLED
Anorganiclightemittingdiode(OLED)isanLEDwhoseemissiveelectroluminescentlayeris
composedofafilmoforganiccompounds.

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